Mowing



(No Model.)

G. H. SPAULDING.

MOWING MACHINE.

No. 389,023. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

in??? o Warren STATES lvlOWlNG-MACHINE.

ESPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,023, datedSeptember 4:, 1888.

Serial No. 227,642. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Gnonen H. SPAULDING, of Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements inMowinglllachinesof which the following is a specification, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawingsjorming a part thereof.

My invention has reference to that ordinary type of mowing-machines inwhich the cutting 1nechanism,united toawheel-frame by jointedconnections, is also connected with a hand-lever, by which it is liftedat the inner or heel end.

The object of my invention is to apply a spring in such manner that itwill assist in sustaining the weight of the finger-bar for the doublepurpose of carrying the cutter over the ground with an easy yieldingaction, and of relieving the operator of a portion of the weight whenlifting the bar out of action.

My invention consistsin the combination of the spring with devicespeculiarly constructed and arranged to operate in connection therewith,as hereinafter described in detail, and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

As the machine maybe in all other respects of ordinary construction, Ihave represented in the drawings only those parts which are immediatelyassociated with my improvement.

Figure l is a front elevation of one side of a Inowcr-frame withinyimprovemenis applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,a portion of the main wheel being broken away to expose the other partto view. Fig. 3 is a side view of the lifting-lever and part attachedthereto. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the axis of thehand-lever. Fig. 5 is an end view of the sprin Referring to thedrawings, A represents a portion of the main frame; 13, the draft poleor tongue bolted firmly thereto; 0, one of the ground-wheels mounted ona journal extend ing from the side of the frame; 1), the inner or heelend of the finger bar; F, the arm for sustaining the same jointed at oneend to the bar and at the opposite end to the frame; G, an angularhand-lever,commonly known as the liftinglever, mounted on a fixed stud,I, projecting from the frame and connected by a chain, H, to the arm Fto control the elevation of the finger-bar and lift it over obstructionsor out of action, as required. In their general construction andarrangement the foregoing parts are similar to those now in general use;but the hand-lever and its connect-ions possess certain features ofnovelty, which will now be explained.

The stud l, onwliich the lever is mounted, is provided with a threadedneck or shoulder, a, which is passed through a vertical plate or Web,I), on the side of the main frame and secured by a nut, 0, on the innerend, its rotation being prevented by a stud, d, projecting from its sideand seated in a notch in the frame, as shown in Fig. 4. The hand-leverisprovided with a tubular journal or sleeve, d, through which the pivotpasses, and is also provided near one end with an annular flange, e,recessed on one side. On the outer end of the stud or pivot I there ismounted a corresponding flange or cup, f. fixed against rotation by apin or cotter, g, passing through its hub and through the stud I. Thehub of this flange is provided, as shown, with a series of notches toreceive the cotter, so thatit may be rotated and fixed in differentpositions for the purpose of regulating the tension of the spring, ashereinafter explained. A strong spiral spring, 71., encircles the sleeveof the hand-lever and is formed with two outwardly-turned ends, one ofwhich is seated in the flange e of the lever, while the other is seatedin a notch in the stationary flange f. The spring, being thus applied,urges the lever constantly backward, and, its tension being properlyregulated, it assists in carrying the weight of the finger-bar, which isthus enabled to ride easily over-inequalities in the surface of theground and over the obstructions which may be encountered. Owing to thetendency of the spring to turn the lever and lift the finger-bar, theoperator is enabled to carry the bar over obstructions or to lift it outof action with much less labor than is ordinarily required.

It is sometimes desirable to render the spring inoperative by lockingthe lever, so that the spring cannot move to lift the'linger-bar. Forthis purpose I pivot a dog or pawl, i, to the lower end of thelifting-lever and provide the main frame with a flange, k, with whichthe dog may engage when the lever is in different positions. A rod, Z,is extended from the dog to a thumb-latch,m, pivoted to the upper end ofthe hand-lever as a means of lifting the dog, and a spiral spring, a, isapplied around the rod for the purpose of urging the dog downward. Whenthe handlever is moved to the rear,it lifts the finger-bar,and if themotion be continued a sufficient distance the dog 2', moving to thefront, will finally pass the forward end ofthe flange lcand, droppinginfront of the same, will lock the lever and hold the fingerbar in itselevated position. WVhen the lever is thrown forward to an extremepositiomthe dog will engage behind the fiange 7c and thus lock the leverforward, so that the spring is for the time being inoperative, theflexible chain or suspension device allowing the cutter devices to riseand fall independently of the lever,and thus follow thesurface of theground. In ordinary positions of the lever the dog rides on top of theflange 7c and is inoperative.

In order that the dog may be locked permanently out of action whenrequired, I propose to provide any suitable device for the purpose. Asimple device isthat represented in Fig. 2, in which it will be seenthat the thumb latch in and the hand-lever are provided with holesp toreceiveapin,q,snspended from the hand-lever. When the thumb-latch isturned upward,so that the two holes register, the dog is lifted clear ofthe flange k. The pin being inserted in the hole maintains the dog inthis position.

\Vhile I have described the recessed flanges or cups to inclose andprotect the spring, and while I prefer to employ them, it is to beunderstood that they are not a necessary feature of the machine.

I am aware that springs have been variously applied to and in carryingand lifting the cutting mechanism of mowing-machines, and this I do notbroadly claim, myinvention residing in the improved manner ofconstructing and arranging the several parts to that end, as hereindescribed and specifically claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In amowingmachine, the main frame, the stud I, provided with the head at itsouter end and fixed at its inner end immovably to the frame, incombination with the cutterdifting lever provided with the notchedflange e, the notched collar or cnfif, mounted on and adjustable aroundthe stud, as described, and the spring encircling the stud and fixed atone end to the flangee and at the other to the collar f.

2. In combination with the main frame and the cutting mechanism jointedthereto to rise and fall, the stud I,fixed to the main frame,the liftinglever mounted on the stud and connected with the cutting mechanism, thecollar f, provided with the notched hub and seated on the stud the pinor cotter g, holding the collar adjustably in place on the stud,and thehelical spring having one end connected to said adjustable collar andthe other connected to the lever.

3. In a mowing-machine, the cutter-lifting lever united to the cutter bythe chain or similar connection, in combination with the spring actingon the lever and tending constantly to raise the cutter, the lockingdogon thelever, and the stationary unbroken flange 7c, whereon the dogrides, adapted to engage and hold the dog only when the lever is thrownto an extreme position forward or backward.

GEORGE H. SPAULDING.

Witnesses:

JAMES GILcnRIs'r, JOHN F. STEWA RD.

